Special status for Hockney country ‘could take a decade’

David Hockney's 'The Road Across The Wolds'

However it could take another six years if agreed for any progress to be made on designating the Yorkshire Wolds, Natural England warned yesterday.

The process itself could take another two and a half years after that and also involve a public inquiry.

Natural England’s board meets next month to decide which of a dozen schemes to take forward, including the Yorkshire Wolds.

It has already been decided that tweaking the boundaries to the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths and the Surrey Hills AONBs will take precedence partly because of budget cuts, leading to a six-year delay, before progress on any new AONBs.

Protecting the area immortalised in Hockney’s paintings from the spread of wind farms has been a key driver for campaigners, who say without it, it will be “open season” for developers. East Riding councillor Symon Fraser said after being told earlier this year there was no money available to fund new AONB partnerships, they had been surprised to be asked to provide more details of their proposals.

He said: “It is quite difficult for us stuttering forwards, we need a fairly firm steer as to how they want this to progress or not progress.”

There are currently 38 AONBs in England and Wales ranging from moors to water meadows. Created by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949, they represent 18 per cent of the country’s finest countryside and are designated because of their flora, fauna, historical and cultural associations as well as scenic views.

The last area to designated was the Tamar Valley in 1994.

As part of the process, the council would consult local farmers, landowners, residents and the tourism industry. If the designation was agreed, a Joint Advisory Committee would be set up including representatives from local authorities - the area could include part of Scarborough Borough, Ryedale and possibly Hambleton.

Coun Fraser said local authorities would probably pick up set-up costs including consultation, but running the AONB would require contributions from other bodies, possibly parish councils. He said: “It is simply unrealistic for people to think local authorities will pick up the everlasting cost of AONB status.”